Post-Game Talk: Devils @ Leafs

[francis246]

It was between McCann and Kerfoot and it's fairly obvious now that Seattle chose the wrong player.

lol… McCann has 18 goals this year and is only 4 points behind Kerfoot

 

[Buds17]

I'm guessing they go back to Campbell tonight to give the Team a chance to put in a better effort in front of him.
Redemption all around.

I definitely like the 'redemption' angle. I'd also essentially deem yesterday a start for Mrazek considering the amount of minutes he played and I don't care much for the idea of running the same goalie in both games of a back-to-back unless the situation desperately calls for it.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I dunno.

The average league ranking for the teams we faced last month is 17.7 (about average), 7 of the 11 were on the road, we were missing key players at points, the team was coming of covid (and were hit harder than most teams without the heros welcome afforded teams anymore) and goaltending was worse than any month going back to 2019....and the team still went 8-2-1.

I think your being a bit harsh no?

I'm quite comfortable saying that we've been playing very poorly defensively as of late. I'm also quite confident saying that the way we played the last couple of games might be good enough to beat crappy teams in the middle of the regular season but if we play like that against teams like TB/FL, our chances of winning a playoff series are near zero.

Your numbers show we're playing great but my eye test says we've sucked lately. The coach agrees with me, it's not for nothing that the team was called out for being "soft and purposeless" and it's not like we've improved since then, the last two games have been just terrible from a team defense perspective. I stand by what I said, those numbers are crap and if I were you, I wouldn't put much stock into anything those numbers tell you because they are lying to you, plain and simple.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I definitely like the 'redemption' angle. I'd also essentially deem yesterday a start for Mrazek considering the amount of minutes he played and I don't care much for the idea of running the same goalie in both games of a back-to-back unless the situation desperately calls for it.

This just makes so much sense, I'd be shocked if Jack doesn't get the start tonight.

 

[ACC1224]

I definitely like the 'redemption' angle. I'd also essentially deem yesterday a start for Mrazek considering the amount of minutes he played and I don't care much for the idea of running the same goalie in both games of a back-to-back unless the situation desperately calls for it.

Yep, that's my thinking as well.

 

[Buds17]

This just makes so much sense, I'd be shocked if Jack doesn't get the start tonight.

I can see a fair argument for sticking with the better goalie from yesterday...I'd just rather not go down that path for the reason I previously stated. Each goalie will no doubt have a fair share of the net considering February's schedule.

 

[axman15]

Lots of talk about how we won’t be able to beat teams like Florida playing like this, but the Panthers are having similar struggles of late, their last 5 games include…

Went up 4-1 on Columbus last night, then allowed them back in the game (it was 5-4) before closing it out late.

Fell behind 3-1 and 4-2 against the Sharks before winning in OT.

Went behind early against Vegas

Allowed Winnipeg to come back 3 times (3!) before closing them out

LOST to Seattle

They aren’t perfect either. Good teams (like Toronto and Florida) find ways to win during this part of the season.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Lots of talk about how we won’t be able to beat teams like Florida playing like this, but the Panthers are having similar struggles of late, their last 5 games include…

...
...

They aren’t perfect either. Good teams (like Toronto and Florida) find ways to win during this part of the season.

It's true, no team is perfect. It's also true that good teams find a way to win etc. I would add that the best teams raise their level of play in the playoffs, and that's something this team hasn't been able to do yet.

We know we're not perfect, we also know that we're a good team. Let's hope that this spring will be different and we step up and show that we deserve to be called one of the best teams in the league.

 

[egd27]

It was between McCann and Kerfoot and it's fairly obvious now that Seattle chose the wrong player.

First off, I like Kerfoot.

That said, I know he plays with Tavares and Nylander, who does McCann play with and how might he fare with 91 & 88 as line mates?

 

[BertCorbeau]

First off, I like Kerfoot.

That said, I know he plays with Tavares and Nylander, who does McCann play with and how might he fare with 91 & 88 as line mates?

McCann’s improvement of line mates would be offset by his reduced PP time so you likely wouldn’t see better offensive output

 

[The Podium]

First off, I like Kerfoot.

That said, I know he plays with Tavares and Nylander, who does McCann play with and how might he fare with 91 & 88 as line mates?

McCann is probably better offensively, but he wouldn’t get the same PP opportunities here and is no where near as good defensively as Kerfoot

 

[BertCorbeau]

I think the last two games have shown the maturity and gaining veteran confidence the Leafs are getting.

Bad starts, but they are able to just flip a switch when needed and goals over the game. It was very apparent the Leafs were facing young teams.

It’s at least showing some composure in the face of adversity.

But at the same time back to back games like that against subpar opponents shouldn’t be like that. I expect better tonight.

 

[Nylanderthal]

I'm confident Dubas would have rather kept mccann over kerfoot.

Why?

 

[Nylanderthal]

If Seattle had selected Kerfoot instead of McCann would it still have been the right call?

Yes, because you’re better off with 1 of the forwards and Holl than you are with no Holl and both forwards.

 

[Gary Nylund]

We all know your MO - when the stats support your POV, then you say the stats never lie but when they don't support your POV, then you say the stats "lack context".

 

[Zybalto]

First off, I like Kerfoot.

That said, I know he plays with Tavares and Nylander, who does McCann play with and how might he fare with 91 & 88 as line mates?

McCann plays most of his minutes with Eberle in a scoring role I think. Seeing as they have struggled as a team this year, I'm guessing his wingers have bounced around a bit.

Gotta remember Kerfoot has played 20% of his minutes on the shutdown 3rd line and has a crazy good goal differential 5v5. (+/- numbers are +19 for Kerfoot to -12 for McCann for folks who like it that way)

 

[Beaumaris]

Maybe someone that's been a fan for a year or two. Me, I've been watching since about 1970 and I've only seen us make the semi finals 3 times, I've never seen us play in the finals and haven't seen us win a playoff series since forever.

Being a fan of this cursed franchise has been mostly a freaking nightmare. Maybe finishing 5-6th overall during the regular season for a few years and now whoppee, 4th overall on Feb 1 is enough to make some people jump for joy and feel great about being "one of the best teams" but I sure as hell am not one of them. I'll say it again, the way we played last night was good enough to beat a crappy team but play like that in the playoffs and we'll be out in 5 games at the most and before I feel like we're "one of the best", I believe we need to stop losing in the playoffs year after year after year no matter who we play against.

Spoiled?

My feelings exactly,mid 70’s for me.
Spoiled ?

 

[Zybalto]

We all know your MO - when the stats support your POV, then you say the stats never lie but when they don't support your POV, then you say the stats "lack context".

The stats say the most useless forwards on the Leafs this year are Clifford and Ritchie.

I say theres value there...

 

[Zybalto]

My feelings exactly,mid 70’s for me.
Spoiled ?

Context I guess.

Compared to 90% of the crap we've been fed the last 50 years, this team is like Christmas.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Lots of talk about how we won’t be able to beat teams like Florida playing like this, but the Panthers are having similar struggles of late, their last 5 games include…

Went up 4-1 on Columbus last night, then allowed them back in the game (it was 5-4) before closing it out late.

Fell behind 3-1 and 4-2 against the Sharks before winning in OT.

Went behind early against Vegas

Allowed Winnipeg to come back 3 times (3!) before closing them out

LOST to Seattle

They aren’t perfect either. Good teams (like Toronto and Florida) find ways to win during this part of the season.

Great post. Most people don't realize what other teams go through in the same way they do with the Leafs, so they somehow think normal things that all teams and players experience are some big indictment of our team and players.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think the last two games have shown the maturity and gaining veteran confidence the Leafs are getting.

Bad starts, but they are able to just flip a switch when needed and goals over the game. It was very apparent the Leafs were facing young teams.

It’s at least showing some composure in the face of adversity.

But at the same time back to back games like that against subpar opponents shouldn’t be like that. I expect better tonight.

The bad starts are a sign of immaturity if you ask me. And I sure hope they don't let the fact that they've managed to eke out victories go to their head, they really need to come ready to play.

Now that I think of it, how many times have we heard that in post game pressers - we need to show up ready to play? Is it at all concerning that they keep saying it yet they keep not showing up not ready to play?

Yes, because you’re better off with 1 of the forwards and Holl than you are with no Holl and both forwards.

+1

Not that Holl is amazing or anything but Dmen are just so valuable.

 

[Zybalto]

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Fun look at the strength of schedule the rest of the way.

Leafs dont fare too badly. Most of the fun will come right at the end when all the top Atlantic teams face each other.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The stats say the most useless forwards on the Leafs this year are Clifford and Ritchie.

I say theres value there...

The stats aren't always wrong. But they're not always right either. That's why it's so important to use your own eyes before making final decisions about anything.

Context I guess.

Compared to 90% of the crap we've been fed the last 50 years, this team is like Christmas.

My favourite team over the last 50 years was the 93 team. That team had some talent, not as much as the current team but they played their assess off, stood up for each other and went much further in the playoffs then this group has. Were it not for the ref dropping the ball, they might even have won the cup.

Great post. Most people don't realize what other teams go through in the same way they do with the Leafs, so they somehow think normal things that all teams and players experience are some big indictment of our team and players.

I know you love to denigrate the fan base as if they're mostly idiots and you are somehow smarter and are here to teach us but this is complete crap. Most of us understand that this is a good regular season team that has yet to show that they have the ability to raise their level of play in the playoffs and until they do that, it's just a bunch of talent that has accomplished much of anything yet.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Hey @HockeyVirus I was just remembering your post from last night. You're probably happy today about not doing dishes for a week lol

Yes. My wife was talking mad shit to me when we went down early. Then we started coming back and every goal I was like "getting nervous yet?" lol.

Then in the 3rd period like 10 min left shes like nah you lost and I was like "IDK if we get 1 more then they pull the goalie, might happen". Matthews ices it with a minute left and I literally did a happy dance.

Half of it was happy to not do laundry, half of it was just beating your spouse at a bet is fun lol

 

[egd27]

McCann plays most of his minutes with Eberle in a scoring role I think. Seeing as they have struggled as a team this year, I'm guessing his wingers have bounced around a bit.

Gotta remember Kerfoot has played 20% of his minutes on the shutdown 3rd line and has a crazy good goal differential 5v5. (+/- numbers are +19 for Kerfoot to -12 for McCann for folks who like it that way)

Again, no complaints with Kerfoot, I just think that saying that Seattle chose the wrong player is a little unfair given their relative situations.